Controlled pumping choke for oil wells



Feb. 10, 1942. c. M. WILLIAMS CONTROLLED PUMPING CHOKE FOR OIL WELLS Filed Jan. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 if/.I

i ULMz/vcf MfLLfAMs ATTORNEY.

Feb. 10, 1942. c. M. WILLIAMS 2,272,388

coNTRLLED. PUMPING oHoKE FOR onJ wELLs Filed' Jan. 25, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 Fig. 5

INV ENT OR. CLARENdEM WLLJAMS afn/M ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 10, 1942 CONTROLLED PUMPING CHOKE FOR OIL WELLS Clarence M. Williams, Augusta, Kans. Y

Application January 25, 1940, serial No. 315,576

(cl. 10s-'180) Claims.

My invention relates to a controlled pumping choke for oil wells and has for its principal object to maintain the natural rock pressure during the pumping or ilowing period of the well.

A further object of my invention is to provide in the mechanism a needle valve adjustably controlled at the top of the well.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient means to automatically lock the mechanism against free longitudinal movement, whereby vthe reciprocating stroke of the pump rod is ineffective to release the mechanism.

A still further object of my invention is to utilize the annular space that is a conventional condition existing in oil well casings and pumping devices, said space being a deposit Yfor daily production, and said deposit being subject to renewal by the natural pressure of the well and being displaced by the pump action, by which means water contamination of the oil is retarded.

A stillV further object of my invention is to provide a choke mechanism adaptable to standard oil well casings and standard `pumping devices to work in conjunction therewith. y

These and other objects will hereinafter be more fully explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which like characters will apply to like parts in the different views.

Referring to the drawings: y

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through the casing of an oil well, parts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the tubular container for the choke. I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a'sectional View taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View through the tube and choke mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line B-I in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line 'I-l in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the anchor fitting for the choke and binder for the cups on the choke barrel.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a. preferred pump arrangement.

My invention lherein disclosed lconsists of a choke barrel structure comprising an upper section I, the upper end of which is adapted to member with a pull tube 2, the abutting ends of each being threaded externally and being connected by a threaded coupling 3 fluid tight, the lower end of said section I being threaded externally to engage with a threaded end of a section 4 for longitudinal adjustment between said members. To render the joint between said section I and section 4 iiuid tight a packing 5 tensioned by a gland nut 6 threadedly engages in the upper end of said member 4, and the said section I at its lower extremity has a head A centrally -bored and threaded to receive the threaded stud B of a needle valve I axially positioned in the barrel of the choke for the purpose later described.

The said head A has a plurality of apertures 8 extending through and spaced around the axis of the head to function as an oil passage through the choke barrel, and the said member 4 has an exterior offset inward to receive a collar 9 slidably engaging vthereon as separating means and retaining means for a pair of flexible cups I0 as oil tight sealing means between the choke barrel and a. sleeve II, in which said barrel is positioned, said sleeve II being connected to the oil conductor tubing I I through the medium of a coupling I I.

A lower section I2 of said choke barrel at its upper extremity is reduced and threaded externally, aligned axial with member 4 and being connected by a section I3, the end portions of which are interiorly threaded to function as a coupling Afor'sections 4 'and I2. The said coupling I3 is `axially bored through the side Walls oppositely as at C, each bore registering with corresponding bores D nin sleeve I I whereby communication is arranged between the choke barrel and a storage E within an oil well casing I4 that'upwardly extends in the oil well, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that the upper end of said section I2 has a head I5 secured therein and axially bored conical as at F to conform to the conical point G of the needle 'I whereby said bore F may be closed or opened to a required consistency, functioning as a choke for a predetermined now through said bore of the head. There is also a guide for the lower extremity of the needle through the medium of an axially bored washer I secured to the wall of the coupling I3 at or near the diametrical axis of the two bores through the wall thereof, and the said washer will function as a deflector, coacting with the choke control of the needle valve for an upward now of the oil as pumped. The retarding of the current flow of the oil, being so controlled, is means to skim the oil from water accumulating in the well during action of the pump.

It will be seen that section I2 from near the longitudinal center thereof to its lower end is reduced in diameter externally to receive `a collar IB slideably fitting thereon as separating means for a pair of flexible cups I'I, one for each end thereof, and clamped thereby as fluid tight sealing means for the section in said sleeve II, and the said collar and cups above referred to being secured by a tting I8 threadedly engaging in` the lower end of said section I2, as shown in Fig. 5, said ttng functioningA asv an anchor against free longitudinal movement of the above described choke structure, and furthermore to restrict rotation thereof for longitudinal adjustment of the needle valve structure, which is accomplished by turning movement of section I, later described.

Attention is further directed to the. structure of said fitting which has its lower tubular wall portion subdividedinto a plurality of sectors I9, and being spaced apart suiciently for each to flex radially as forced into or withdrawn fromthe lower end of said sleeve I'I, it being understood that the lower end of saidv sleeve is of greater thickness, extending inward for ashort distance upward, and in which is formed an annular depression H in which will' Seat an outward extension J externally positioned oneach' of said sectors, as a retainer against free withdrawal', as above stated; There is also' formed on the threaded head portion of the fitting a shoulder K as a stop against further downward". movement of the choke when assembling the' structure in a well, and the sectors, being spaced apart', and the lower corner of each converging, is means to selectively straddle a pin' 20' radially extending inward and secured tov the wall of.` sleeveV II, whereby the choke structure; except its upper section I, is retainedA against rotation at th'etime of adjusting the needle valve opening, which is accomplished by turning section I ais` threadedly engaged, to move the needle-longitudinally;

To turn section I, it will be seen that itsicoupling 3 has a lug 2| upwardly extending. and adapted to seat iny a notch 22 arranged therefor in the lower end of the pump sleeve 23, as shown in Fig. 2, said sleeve to slideably engage on the said pull tube 2, by which arrangement, when the sleeve is dropped to engagement with the lugg, it is turned sufiiciently for the notch and lug engagement, and when so connected; the turning movement is through the medium of a pump rod 24 that is secured to the cage 25 ofthe pump sleeve, said rod extending upward and, outward at the top of the well, and to` be' turned by. an appropriate tool toadjust the needle' valve To clarify the purpose of the ports and choke arrangement heretofore referred to it isnow stated that the ports will function as'an overflow for the oil from the well into the reservoir', the height of the fill being governed by the oil'rock` pressure of the well but restricted to agiven rate of flow by the needle valve, in otherr words; the said needle valve may be closed` sufficientlyA to restrict the flow to a desired number'ofv barrels per period of time, for example, the valve being set for a supply of forty barrels per twenty-four hours, and at such termination of time the oil being promptly pumped from the reservoir, returning through thev said ports. When thev said amount is exhausted the pump will cease to work and must remain idle for the next succeeding quantity of fill. It will be seen that the needle valve as adjusted will permit only forty barrels of production per each twenty-four hour period of time.

It will be understood that the pump sleeve, pull tube and pump rod are of conventional type commonly employed in oil well pumping devices, and such I do not claim broadly, also a packing element 26 extending downward and being carried by sleeve I I is another conventional element associated with oil pumpers, the function of which is well known in the art, as well as the pump sleeve above referred to.

While I have shown certain novel arrangements to connect the members of the choke structure, I do notwish to be restricted to such alone, as other connecting uid tight means may be adopted, and such other modifications may be employedlas lie'within the scope of the appended claims;

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new' and desirey to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a controlled pumping choke for oil wells, achoke structure of the class described,` a reservoir surrounding saidA choke structure, said choke structure comprised of a jointed hollow choke barrel and a sleeve in whichv the choke barrel is inserted, one portion of the' jointed barrel being secured :duid tight and against rotation' in the sleeve, while the other portion is adapted to revolvef and move longitudinally, a needle valve positioned in the hollow of the choke barrel, means` at the lower end of the movable portion to which the needle valve is secured, said valve adjustably opened and closed by the movable portion of the barrel as the movable portion is moved longitudinally, and the said wall of the sleeve and choke barrel having ports oppositely disposed communicating with the reservoir.

2. In-a controlled pumping choke for oil wells, in combination with the pump structure of an oil Well, saidchoke structure comprised of a plurality of sections threadedly connected functioning as abarrel and a sleeve to receive the` choke structure fluidV tight, a fitting having sectors integrally jointed to a threaded head portion of the tting, said fitting to threadedly engage rmly on the lower extremity of the choke barrel, and each sectorhaving an extension externally and'the sleeve having an annular groove internally to receive the extension of the sector seating therein as an anchor against longitudinal movement of the barrel, a pin spaced upward from the lower end of the sleeve and extending inward thereof to engage between the sectorsto avoid rotation of al lower portion of the barrel, a needle valve comprised of a needle and means to secure one end to an upper joint of the barrel, a head? axially bored and carried by a lowerjoint of the barrel, said last joint stationarily arranged, while the upper joint carrying the needle is adapted to turn, moving the needle longitudinally, and thefree end of the needle being tapered to conform to the bore in the head and to move to andY from engagement therewith by turning movement of the upper section, there being a pump mechanism comprised ofa sleeve and a pull tube, the pull tube being connected to` the upper section of the choke barrel, the sleeve having a rod upwardly extending and being secured thereto as reciprocating longitudinal movement and turning movement therefor, means to connect the lower end of the sleeve to the upper end of the revolving portion of the choke barrel structure as turning means therefor by the rod secured to the sleeve, and the said sleeve and choke barrel having ports in registry and oppositely disposed for external communication.

3. In a controlled pumping choke for oil wells, as recited in claim 2, the needle carrying head being apertured plurally and through which oil will flow as drawn by the pump.

4. In a controlled pumping choke for oil wells, a sleeve having a packing element threadedly connected to one end thereof and means to connect the other end of sleeve to conductor tubing, a hollow barrel insertible in the sleeve, the barrel being jointed and threadedly connected to vary the length thereof by turning movement of one portion at the joint, the other portion being rigidly secured in the sleeve, a needle structure carried axially by an apertured head in the revolving portion of the barrel, and an axially bored head for the needle carried by the stationary portion of the barrel and a bored washer to guide the free end of the needle as it moves into and from the bore of the head, and the Wall of the sleeve and barrel having ports oppositely disposed and being adjacent said washer with respect to the diametrical axis of the ports, all as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a controlled pumping choke for oil wells, the oil Well having a casing and tubing in the casing of a lesser diameter to provide an annular reservoir between the tubing and the casing, there being a pull tube Within the last said tubing, the pumping choke comprising a sleeve and means to connect the sleeve to the first said tubing, a packing element secured to the other end of the sleeve, a hollow barrel comprised of upper and lower members threadedly connected to move said members longitudinally toward and from each other, the lower member having a head intermediate of its length with a conical bore axially extending therethrough, the upper member carrying a conical pointed needle to engage in the bore, a tting secured to the lower barrel member, the lower end of the tting being divided into four sectors spaced apart, and a lug radially positioned on the lower end of the sleeve to engage between the sectors selectively to avoid turning of the lower barrel member, the pull tube being secured to the upper barrel member through the medium of a coupling, the coupling having a lug extending from its upper end in parallelism with the axis, a pump sleeve telescopically engaging on the pull tube, the pump sleeve having a notch in the wall thereof to engage with the lug on the coupling as turning means for the said upper choke member, the Walls of the sleeve and barrel being bored in registry as an exit for the flow of oil into and from the reservoir, the said pump sleeve having a pump rod secured to its upper end, said rod protruding upward and outward of the well by which means the sleeve is turned to raise and lower the needle whereby the flow of oil is controlled through the bored head carried by the lower barrel member.

CLARENCE M. WILLIAMS. 

